News

Police Commissioner Election: Poor turn-out in Oxford

FEARS of a low turn-out in the election for the new Police and Crime Commissioner appeared to be accurate this morning after it emerged less than 11 per cent of people voted in Oxford yesterday.

Six candidates are standing to take the post as the new head of Thames Valley Police under a scheme the Government claims will lead to more public accountability.

But the new post - which replaces the police authorities as the body overseeing forces - has been widely criticised with predictions of public apathy.

The verficiation process of ballots is near completion this morning and it has just been announced that only 10.9 per cent of registered voters in Oxford bothered to turn out yesterday. That is the joint lowest in the Thames Valley, alongside Slough, and amounted to just 12,065 people.

Overall there was a 13.3 per cent turn-out across the region.

In the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire districts there was a 13.9 per cent and 13.6 per cent turn-out respectively and 13.2 per cent in West Oxfordshire. In Cherwell the turn-out was 12.4 per cent.

Counts are happening locally with results collated in Aylesbury.

The winner may be declared at 1pm if there is a clear winner under the first preference voting scheme. If it requires the checking of the second preference votes, the winner may not be declared until 4.30pm.

Reporter Ben Wilkinson is tweeting live from the election HQ in Aylesbury via @TheOxfordMail

Comments (8)

That is shambolic. These elections cost £100 MILLION - why not spend that on more Police, rather than some stupid politician that no-one wants?!

I thought Labour were bad for creating more bureaucracy, but the Conservadems are no better....

That is shambolic. These elections cost £100 MILLION - why not spend that on more Police, rather than some stupid politician that no-one wants?!
I thought Labour were bad for creating more bureaucracy, but the Conservadems are no better....EMBOX1

Mark L. wrote:
Voter Apathy or opposition everywhere. One of my work colleagues is a Polling Station Clerk and his Polling Station in Berkshire yesterday saw a 3% turnout to vote.

Hahaha !! really ? 3%....fantastic !

Perhaps its time for the government to realise that most people really don't give a **** and that, going by these turnout figures, the majority of people would prefer to stay in and watch Masterchef or Kirsty's Vintage House than go out and vote for something they don't understand or care about. A good result for democracy - the majority of people exercised their right to stay in and do something more interesting.

[quote][p][bold]Mark L.[/bold] wrote:
Voter Apathy or opposition everywhere. One of my work colleagues is a Polling Station Clerk and his Polling Station in Berkshire yesterday saw a 3% turnout to vote.[/p][/quote]Hahaha !! really ? 3%....fantastic !
Perhaps its time for the government to realise that most people really don't give a **** and that, going by these turnout figures, the majority of people would prefer to stay in and watch Masterchef or Kirsty's Vintage House than go out and vote for something they don't understand or care about. A good result for democracy - the majority of people exercised their right to stay in and do something more interesting.livid99

Too large an area, with too many differing issues. What matters in rural West Oxfordshire will be opposite to the needs of Reading.

A total waste of money, as given the voter demographic of the area I would be surprised if do not end up with a Tory anyway.

Too large an area, with too many differing issues. What matters in rural West Oxfordshire will be opposite to the needs of Reading.
A total waste of money, as given the voter demographic of the area I would be surprised if do not end up with a Tory anyway.Mrs Arcanum